armadale-第75章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　necessary　bald　head；　the　necessary　double　eyeglass；　the
necessary　black　clothes；　and　the　necessary　blandness　of　manner；
all　　complete。　His　voice　was　soothing；　his　ways　were　deliberate；
his　smile　was　confid　ential。　What　particular　branch　of　his
profession　Doctor　Downward　followed　was　not　indicated　on　his
door…plate；　but　he　had　utterly　mistaken　his　vocation　if　he　was
not　a　ladies'　medical　man。

〃Are　you　quite　sure　there　is　no　mistake　about　the　name？〃　asked
the　doctor；　with　a　strong　underlying　anxiety　in　his　manner。　〃I
have　known　very　serious　inconvenience　to　arise　sometimes　from
mistakes　about　names。　No？　There　is　really　no　mistake？　In　that
case；　gentlemen；　I　can　only　repeat　what　my　servant　has　already
told　you。　Don't　apologize；　pray。　Good…morning。〃　The　doctor
withdrew　as　noiselessly　as　he　had　appeared；　the　man　in　the　shabby
livery　silently　opened　the　door；　and　Allan　and　his　companion
found　themselves　in　the　street　again。

〃Mr。　Armadale；〃　said　Pedgift；　〃I　don't　know　how　you　feel；　I　feel
puzzled。〃

〃That's　awkward；〃　returned　Allan。　〃I　was　just　going　to　ask　you
what　we　ought　to　do　next。〃

〃I　don't　like　the　look　of　the　place；　the　look　of　the　shop…woman；
or　the　look　of　the　doctor；〃　pursued　the　other。　〃And　yet　I　can't
say　I　think　they　are　deceiving　us；　I　can't　say　I　think　they
really　know　Mrs。　Mandeville's　name。〃

The　impressions　of　Pedgift　Junior　seldom　misled　him；　and　they　had
not　misled　him　in　this　case。　The　caution　which　had　dictated　Mrs。
Oldershaw's　private　removal　from　Bayswater　was　the　caution　which
frequently　overreaches　itself。　It　had　warned　her　to　trust　nobody
at　Pimlico　with　the　secret　of　the　name　she　had　assumed　as　Miss
Gwilt's　reference；　but　it　had　entirely　failed　to　prepare　her　for
the　emergency　that　had　really　happened。　In　a　word；　Mrs。　Oldershaw
had　provided　for　everything　except　for　the　one　unimaginable
contingency　of　an　after…inquiry　into　the　character　of　Miss　Gwilt。

〃We　must　do　something；〃　said　Allan；　〃it　seems　useless　to　stop
here。〃

Nobody　had　ever　yet　caught　Pedgift　Junior　at　the　end　of　his
resources；　and　Allan　failed　to　catch　him　at　the　end　of　them　now。
〃I　quite　agree　with　you；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　do　something。
We'll　cross…examine　the　cabman。〃

The　cabman　proved　to　be　immovable。　Charged　with　mistaking　the
place；　he　pointed　to　the　empty　shop　window。　〃I　don't　know　what
you　may　have　seen；　gentlemen；〃　he　remarked；　〃but　there's　the　only
shop　window　I　ever　saw　with　nothing　at　all　inside　it。　_That_
fixed　the　place　in　my　mind　at　the　time；　and　I　know　it　again　when
I　see　it。〃　Charged　with　mistaking　the　person　or　the　day；　or　the
house　at　which　he　had　taken　the　person　up；　the　cabman　proved　to
be　still　unassailable。　The　servant　who　fetched　him　was　marked　as
a　girl　well　known　on　the　stand。　The　day　was　marked　as　the
unluckiest　working…day　he　had　had　since　the　first　of　the　year；
and　the　lady　was　marked　as　having　had　her　money　ready　at　the
right　moment　（which　not　one　elderly　lady　in　a　hundred　usually
had）；　and　having　paid　him　his　fare　on　demand　without　disputing　it
（which　not　one　elderly　lady　in　a　hundred　usually　did）。　〃Take　my
number；　gentlemen；〃　concluded　the　cabman；　〃and　pay　me　for　my
time；　and　what　I've　said　to　you；　I'll　swear　to　anywhere。〃

Pedgift　made　a　note　in　his　pocket…book　of　the　man's　number。
Having　added　to　it　the　name　of　the　street；　and　the　names　on　the
two　brass　plates；　he　quietly　opened　the　cab　door。　〃We　are　quite
in　the　dark；　thus　far；〃　he　said。　〃Suppose　we　grope　our　way　back
to　the　hotel？〃

He　spoke　and　looked　more　seriously　than　usual　The　mere　fact　of
〃Mrs。　Mandeville's〃　having　changed　her　lodging　without　telling
any　one　where　she　was　going；　and　without　leaving　any　address　at
which　letters　could　be　forwarded　to　herwhich　the　jealous
malignity　of　Mrs。　Milroy　had　interpreted　as　being　undeniably
suspicious　in　itselfhad　produced　no　great　impression　on　the
more　impartial　judgment　of　Allan's　solicitor。　People　frequently
left　their　lodgings　in　a　private　manner；　with　perfectly
producible　reasons　for　doing　so。　But　the　appearance　of　the　place
to　which　the　cabman　persisted　in　declaring　that　he　had　driven
〃Mrs。　Mandeville〃　set　the　character　and　proceedings　of　that
mysterious　lady　before　Pedgift　Junior　in　a　new　light。　His
personal　interest　in　the　inquiry　suddenly　strengthened；　and　he
began　to　feel　a　curiosity　to　know　the　real　nature　of　Allan's
business　which　he　had　not　felt　yet。

〃Our　next　move；　Mr。　Armadale；　is　not　a　very　easy　move　to　see；〃　he
said；　as　they　drove　back　to　the　hotel。　〃Do　you　think　you　could
put　me　in　possession　of　any　further　particulars？〃

Allan　hesitated；　and　Pedgift　Junior　saw　that　he　had　advanced　a
little　too　far。　〃I　mustn't　force　it；〃　he　thought；　〃I　must　give　it
time；　and　let　it　come　of　its　own　accord。〃　〃In　the　absence　of　any
other　information；　sir；〃　he　resumed；　〃what　do　you　say　to　my
making　some　inquiry　about　that　queer　shop；　and　about　those　two
names　on　the　door…plate？　My　business　in　London；　when　I　leave　you；
is　of　a　professional　nature；　and　I　am　going　into　the　right
quarter　for　getting　information；　if　it　is　to　be　got。〃

〃There　can't　be　any　harm；　I　suppose；　in　making　inquiries；〃
replied　Allan。

He；　too；　spoke　more　seriously　than　usual；　he；　too；　was　beginning
to　feel　an　all…mastering　curiosity　to　know　more。　Some　vague
connection；　not　to　be　distinctly　realized　or　traced　out；　began　to
establish　itself　in　his　mind　between　the　difficulty　of
approaching　Miss　Gwilt's　family　circumstances　and　the　difficulty
of　approaching　Miss　Gwilt's　reference。　〃I'll　get　down　and　walk；
and　leave　you　to　go　on　to　your　business；〃　he　said。　〃I　want　to
consider　a　little　about　this；　and　a　walk　and　a　cigar　will　help
me。〃

〃My　business　will　be　done；　sir；　between　one　and　two；〃　said
Pedgift；　when　the　cab　had　been　stopped；　and　Allan　had　got　out。
〃Shall　we　meet　again　at　two　o'clock；　at　the　hotel？〃

Allan　nodded；　and　the　cab　drove　off。

CHAPTER　IV。

ALLAN　AT　BAY。

Two　o'clock　came；　and　Pedgift　Junior；　punctual　to　his　time；　came
with　it。　His　vivacity　of　the　morning　had　all　sparkled　out；　he
greeted　Allan　with　his　customary　politeness；　but　without　his
customary　smile；　and；　when　the　headwaiter　came　in　for　orders；　his
dismissal　was　instantly　pronounced　in　words　never　yet　heard　to
issue　from　the　lips　of　Pedgift　in　that　hotel：　〃Nothing　at
present。〃

〃You　seem　to　be　in　low　spirits；〃　said　Allan。　〃Can't　we　get　our
information？　Can　nobody　tell　you　anything　about　the　house　in
Pimlico？〃

〃Three　different　people　have　told　me　about　it；　Mr。　Armadale；　and
they　have　all　three　said　the　same　thing。〃

Allan　eagerly　drew　his　chair　nearer　to　the　place　occupied　by　his
traveling　companion。　His　reflections　in　the　interval　since　they
had　last　seen　each　other　had　not　tended　to　compose　him。　That
strange　connection；　so　easy　to　feel；　so　hard　to　trace；　between
the　difficulty　of　approaching　Miss　Gwilt's　family　circumstances
and　the　difficulty　of　approaching　Miss　Gwilt's　reference；　which
had　already　established　itself　in　his　thoughts；　had　by　this　time
stealthily　taken　a　firmer　and　firmer　hold　on　his　mind。　Doubts
troubled　him　which　he　could　neither　understand　nor　express。
Curiosity　filled　him；　which　he　half　longed　and　half　dreaded　to
satisfy。

〃I　am　afraid　I　must　trouble　you　with　a　question　or　two；　sir；
before　I　can　come　to　the　point；〃　said　Pedgift　Junior。　〃I　don't
want　to　force　myself　into　your　confidence。　I　only　want　to　see　my
way；　in　what　looks　to　me　like　a　very　awkward　business。　Do　you
mind　telling　me　whether　others　besides　yourself　are　interested　in
this　inquiry　of　ours？〃

〃Other　people　_are_　interested　in　it；〃　replied　Allan。　〃There's　no
objection　to　telling　you　that。〃

〃Is　there　any　other　person　who　is　the　object　of　the　inquiry
besides　Mrs。　Mandeville；　herself？〃　pursued　Pedgift；　winding　his
way　a　little　deeper　into　the　secret。

〃Yes；　there　is　another　person；〃　said　Allan；　answering　rather
unwillingly。

〃Is　the　person　a　young　woman；　Mr。　Armadale？〃

Allan　started。　〃How　do　you　come　to　guess　that？〃　he　began；　then
checked　himself；　when　it　was　too　late。　〃Don't　ask　me　any　more
questions；〃　he　resumed。　〃I'm　a　bad　hand　at　defending　myself
against　a　sharp　fellow　like　you；　and　I'm　bound　in　honor　toward
other　people　to　keep　the　particulars　of　this　business　to　myself。〃

Pedgift　Junior　had　apparently　heard　enough　for　his　purpose。　He
drew　his　chair；　in　his　turn；　nearer　to　Allan。　He　was　evidently
anxious　and　　embarrassed；　but　his　professional　manner　began　to
show　itself　again　from　sheer　fo　rce　of　habit。

〃I've　done　with　my　questions；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　have
something　to　say　now　on　my　side。　In　my　father's　absence；　perhaps
you　may　be　kindly　disposed　to　consider　me　as　your　legal　adviser。
If　you　will　take　my　advice；　you　will　not　stir　another　step　in
this　inquiry。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　interposed　Allan。

〃It　is　just　possible；　Mr。　Armadale；　that　the　cabman；　positive　as
he　is；　may　have　been　mistaken。　I　strongly　recommend　you　to　take
it　for　granted　that　he　_is_　mistaken；　and　to　drop　it　there。〃

The　caution　was　kindly　intended；　but　it　came　too　late。　Allan　did
what　ninety…nine　men　out　of　a　hundred　in　his　position　would　have
donehe　declined　to　take　his　lawyer's　advice。

〃Very　well；　sir；〃　said　Pedgift　Junior；　〃if　you　will　have　it；　you
must　have　it。〃

He　leaned　forward　close　to　Allan's　ear；　and　whispered　what　he　had
heard　of　the　house　in　Pimlico；　and　of　the　people　who　occupied　it。

〃Don't　blame　me；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　he　added；　when　the　irrevocable
words　had　been　spoken。　〃I　tried　to　spare　you。〃

Allan　suffered　the　shock；　as　all　great　shocks　are　suffered；　in
silence。　His　first　impulse　would　have　driven　him　headlong　for
refuge　to　that　very　view　of　the　cabman's　assertion　which　had　just
been　recommended　to　him；　but　for　one　damning　circumstance　which
placed　itself　inexorably　in　his　way。　Miss　Gwilt's　marked
reluctance　to　approach　the　story　of　her　past　life　rose
irrepressibly　on　his　memory；　in　indirect　but　horrible
confirmation　of　the　evidence　which　connected　Miss　Gwilt's
reference　with　the　house　in　Pimlico。　One　conclusion；　and　one
onlythe　conclusion　which　any　man　must　have　drawn；　hearing　what
he　had　just　heard；　and　knowing　no　more　than　he　knewforced
itself　into　his　mind。　A　miserable；　fallen　woman；　who　had
abandoned　herself　in　her　extremity　to　the　help　of　wretches
skilled　in　criminal　concealment；　who　had　stolen　her　way　back　to
decent　society　and　a　reputable　employment　by　means　of　a　false
character；　and　whose　position　now　imposed　on　her　the　dreadful
necessity　of　perpetual　secrecy　and　perpetual　deceit　in　relation
to　her　past　lifesuch　was　the　aspect　in　which　the　beautiful
governess　at　Thorpe　Ambrose　now　stood　revealed　to　Allan's　eyes！

Falsely　revealed；　or　truly　revealed？　Had　she　stolen　her　way　back
to　decent　society　and　a　reputable　employment　by　means　of　a　false
character？　She　had。　Did　her　position　impose　on　her　the　dreadful
necessity　of　perpetual　secrecy　and　perpetual　deceit　in　relation
to　her　past　life？　It　did。　Was　she　some　such　pitiable　victim　to
the　treachery　of　a　man　unknown　as　Allan　had　supposed？　_She　was　no
such　pitiable　victim。_　The　conclusion　which　Allan　had　drawnthe
conclusion　literally　forced　into　his　mind　by　the　facts　before
himwas；　nevertheless；　the　conclusion　of　all　others　that